zombie computer

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colobear

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Help from you smart guys. I was blocking the usual spam offering replica watches, viagra, etc. and saw one from myself. My E-Mail address was listed as the sender. Does this mean my computer has been captured and is now a zombie? How can I confirm that and how can I get rid of it? I use McAffee to protect from viruses.

Thanks.
 
Barry, I have had this happen with my work email address at the City - I guess the true nerds will tell you the deal, but I doubt your computer has been taken over by zombies. The spammers can make an email appear to come from whatever return address they want. Then again, maybe it has been taken over by zombies. My advice - get a Mac or switch to Ubuntu Linux on your PC, and note the absence of "smiley faces" after this advice...
 
HEY !! That has just happened to my computer too.... all of a sudden I am getting hundreds of returned mail and SPAM returned mail.... with my e-mail address.... I talked to my computer guy and he told me to create mail rules that dump e-mails with certain words...or phrases.. That eliminates 3/4 of the junk.... but not all.... he also had me disable any automatic e-mail receipts sent from my computer....hopefully this will help.... I don't know what else to do.... My protection is Norton Anti-virus

Joel
SEA3PO
 
The "from" or "reply to" portion of an email can be written to read anything one wants it to (especially if one has their own email server). Most email programs display the email header in a short form. Often times you can view "long headers" (or something similar) and find out from where the email was routed. Sometimes you can find an alternate source of the email that way.
 
Open the E-mail, then open "file"--click on "properties" and then on "Detials"--that will tell you exactly where the file originated and what route it took. I suspect that they are only using your "name"--and not your computer.

However, it is a good idea to disconnect the computer from the internet when you are not using it.
 
I agree with Bob to view the email full headers (properties)for the source.

If you have email filtering then start using it. Any email I think is unwarranted I press the spam button and it is sent to Spam folder. This is called grey listing b/c the message is saved then I can review it and decide to keep it or block future email from them. This is called black listing.

Mozilla Thunderbird (http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/) is free and filterz email. Other options depending on your email client and numerous add-ons programs.

I use web based email and POP access. I still like to download (pop) email subjects line and first 30 words of each message, and no attachments then sign off and work offline. Pegasus Mail and Outlook Express make it easy. Very useful if using dialup.

Rule 2 is never reply to Spam.
 
Thanks all. I already have a pretty good filter set up. I get about 4-5 penis enlargement/viagra/rolex/nigerian money phishes a day and routinely block that sender. I did check the properties and the IP was not mine so I'm probably OK.

Thanlks again.
 
Barry, whatever your trouble is with your email you need to get it fixed. Some of them emails you cited are coming from your computer and going all over the world. With pictures...

I don't know if this will work with your ISP, but it does with mine. When the spam emails start coming in fast I do my email checking at the provider's site (Charter Cable for me) and mark the bum ones as spam there. After a few times it really slows down the ones that make it to my house.
 
Yes, I run both spybot and adaware. Doncha just love them spam kings :x
 
Paul,

I'm not going to...Ummm...touch that with a ten foot pole :twisted:
 
It looks like you took Bob's advice - which is spot on. Check the "internet headers" that are a "hidden" part of every email. What email client do you use? I'd be happy to help get specific steps for you to see the Internet Headers for your mail client.

There is no need to think that you are a zombie computer and sending pictures, emails, spam and malware across the net. Make sure you have an anti-virus program, run one or two of the spyware packages and make sure the PC is clean.

This happens to most, if not all, of us. there are many ways spammers can guess or harvest your email address and spoof the sender info.

Again - check the Internet Headers - they'll show you that the mail didn't originate from your machine or really come from you.
 
It would be interesting to know what occurred to cause the increase. I receive nearly the same amount of unsolicited email each day.

I do use disposable email addresses often for online forms, etc
 
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